Where to ride out the COVID-19
Costa Rica vs USA: Where to ride out the COVID-19 Pandemic. My husband Steve is in California on holiday with his dad and grandfather. He has been stateside for over a month. Our seventeen-year-old daughter Taya and I stayed behind at our home in Costa Rica. This was just a normal trip home for him to see friends and family. Due to the state of emergency from the coronavirus also known as COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, this trip turned out to be a much different trip than originally planned.
Drastic Change Over the Last Couple Months
The video conversation with my husband that was once full of our fun adventures apart has taken a drastic change over the last few weeks. Instead of, “How was your day at the beach, or what new sights did you see today?” The conversation sounds more like, “Do your store shelves have food today, how’s your toilet paper supply? What if we get sick, is Costa Rica or the USA going to have better care? How are we going to be able to provide? Where are we going to spend the lockdown? Do we want to risk traveling or risk being apart for months?” Today’s conversation is about the same however it is going to take a quick turn.
As I listen to the Costa Rica President Carlos Alvarado in Spanish, I find myself bawling like a baby. I pray I’m not understanding correctly. It’s been known to happen. He is speaking in Spanish and we all know my Spanish sucks. This is one of those times I am hoping I’m wrong. Waiting for my translator to double-check before I freaked out too much more. I confirm that my Spanish might not suck as much as some may think because I understood correctly. My expat world was about to change again in a matter of minutes.
Costa Rica Borders Are Closing
It was just a matter of time and today is the day. Costa Rica borders are to be closed starting on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Costa Rica has forty-one confirmed cases of COVID-19, Health Minister Daniel Salas said.
I am going to have to make a life-changing decision in the next couple of minutes. Will my family be together during the lockdown? Do Taya and I fly to him? Should he fly to us or do we both stay put? My heart races as I wait for Steve to pick up.
There is only one red-eye with a couple of seats leaving Sacramento California (SMF) to Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR). In order to get this flight, he has to be at the airport in less than 8 hours. If he chooses to not take this fight he will not be allowed back into the country until the travel ban is lifted. Steve, please answer the phone.
Expat Russian Roulette
I am once again playing “Expat Russian Roulette”. The stakes are higher than ever. In addition to our personal lives, flying can have far-reaching effects. If we come in contact with someone infected, we could help the spread of the virus. We are not making these decisions lightly. I have to make a life-changing choice in a matter of minutes.
Steve eventually picks up the call. Our Messenger video call is a bit tense. The deadline is upon us and we have to choose. After weighing all the options, we decide Steve will take the red-eye and return to Costa Rica tomorrow.
Our family will be together as we self-isolate in our jungle home by the beach.
